[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’‘Iloilo Airport among Asia’s best’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
ILOILO City – Iloilo Airport ranked 12th in the Top 30 Best Airports in Asia, a survey by a website providing guides and reviews on airports across the world showed.
It ranked above three other Philippine airports that made it to the Top 30 – Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City (14th), Clark International Airport in Pampanga (15th) and Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City (26th).
Travelers voted on the Top 30 airports in the 2016 Airport Survey of the website The Guide to Sleeping in Airports based on Comfort (rest zones and gate seating), Services, Facilities and Things to Do, Food Options, Immigration or Security, Customer Service, and Cleanliness.
Iloilo Airport, one of the busiest gateways in Western Visayas, was ranked 21st in the same survey in 2015.
Aside from domestic flights, the airport also services regular flights to Hong Kong and Singapore.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog commended the Iloilo Airport management for ensuring the travelers’ convenience. He said the exposure was a big help to Iloilo’s tourism, business and investments.
The gateway with a 2,500-meter long and 45-meter wide runway opened on June 14, 2007.
A 24-year-old Ilongga said Iloilo Airport workers were kind and accommodating.
“If makita nila nga confused ka, ginapamangkot ka nila kon may problema kag i-guide ka nila,” Ryssian Herrera told Panay News, recalling an instance when personnel assisted her grandparents.
The Iloilo Airport located in Cabatuan, Iloilo is the first airport in both Western Visayas and the island of Panay to be built to international standards. It can support aircraft as large as the Airbus A321, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Boeing 757, Boeing 767 and Boeing 787.
Runway lights and an Instrument Landing System were installed, making the airport capable of supporting low-visibility and night landings under any weather condition.
A supervisor of an RTW business was glad to know the Iloilo Airport was perceived among the top ones in Asia.
“I’m so proud of it,” said the 26-year-old Rachelle Etino. “I can’t help but compare it with the other airports I’ve been to.”
Kate, on the other hand, believes there was a lot more to improve on the airport’s facilities.
“Ang waiting area indi pa air-conditioned. Ang escalator isa lang. Ang Wi-Fi too slow,” said the 19-year-old communication student at West Visayas State University who refused to disclose her full name.
“Ang counters gamay lang ang open. The airport suits the image and comfort of a domestic airport,” she said./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
